Vietnam War Veterans

About one in three Vietnam veterans who served in-country suffered from full or partial Post Traumatic Stress Disorder a quarter century or more after the war. More than two in three Vietnam veterans suffered from full or partial Post Traumatic Stress Disorder sometime since Vietnam.

Effect on Family and Friendships

Many Vietnam veterans tended to be extremely isolated from relationships and community, primarily as a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In addition, many veterans had great difficulty in rejoining the very tightly knit extended families and communities in their homes after the war.

Other people, such as spouses, children, family members, friends, or coworkers, often are more aware of the veteran's emotional distress than he is himself.

Decades of haunting memories and overwhelming feelings leave the veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder feeling demoralized and alone. He may believe that as a man he must bear the burden of pain, fear, anger, shame, and guilt silently. He may believe that he has failed his most precious loved ones and lost the respect of his community.

He may feel helpless to conquer the habitual urge to drink alcohol. As a result, it becomes almost impossible for him to enjoy life or relationships, and the harder he tries to fight the symptoms the more stressed he becomes! Yet, when family or friends see signs of the veteran's inner turmoil, they don't know why it's happening and often blame themselves: "I always thought it was something I was doing wrong, but I never knew what!" Nor do they know how to help: "I gave up trying to break through his emotional walls."

The family's view of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may include:

• "Little things get him very depressed or enraged, like he's always at the end of his rope."

• "He tries to enjoy being with us, but his heart's not in it and his mind's always somewhere else."

• "For him, every problem's a disaster, and we're slow, stupid, and never careful or tough enough."

• "He's always got to be on the go, can never sit still, and can't even hold the same job for long."

• "I never understood why he kept going back to alcohol, even though he always ends up in a fight, in jail, or out in the mountains for weeks after he's been drinking. He won't stop even though it's killing him."

Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on Work and Education

Getting and keeping a good job, or returning to complete school or for advanced education, require exactly the abilities that are most impaired by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: mental concentration, managing anger, solving problems without turning them into crises, communicating clearly, balancing work with relaxation, and feeling a sense of hopefulness and purpose.

Despite courageous efforts, veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder often become trapped in the vicious cycle of settling for bad jobs and avoiding or walking out on good jobs.

Now well into their 40s and 50s, Vietnam veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder face great difficulty in getting a good education or having a rewarding career.

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